Monaco GP: Ferrari preview

Monaco GP - A track with a unique charm
Maranello, 20th 2008 - If this weekend's Grand Prix was taking place at any
track other than the one that uses the streets of Monte Carlo, then Scuderia
Ferrari Marlboro could approach this event with the...

Monaco GP - A track with a unique charm

Maranello, 20th 2008 - If this weekend's Grand Prix was taking place at any
track other than the one that uses the streets of Monte Carlo, then Scuderia
Ferrari Marlboro could approach this event with the degree of confidence
commensurate with a team heading both Constructors' and Drivers' points
tables, having won the last four rounds of the world championship. However,
the cliche image of the Principality and its famous Casino is a fitting
motto for the lottery that is the Monaco Grand Prix, where the only
certainty is that the race result is often unpredictable and can go against
any current trend established earlier in the season.

Ferrari travels down to the Riviera having last week completed a test
session at the Paul Ricard circuit, during which the first two days were
devoted to preparation for this special race and its demand for the highest
downforce levels of the season. As usual, this involves using a new
aerodynamic package, running big wings and many other winglets and aero
devices, while the F2008 will also be fitted with the slotted nose first
seen in Barcelona but not used in Istanbul. While these devices are the work
of the team in Maranello, another new element is one that is common to all
teams, in the shape of the super-soft Bridgestone tyre, having its first
outing of the year. "First impressions of the Ricard test and data analysis
back at Maranello are positive," believes Team Principal Stefano Domenicali.
"However, as I mentioned after our win in Istanbul, we know we are now about
to tackle a pair of races - this one and Canada a fortnight later - that
presented us with several problems last year. We feel we have made a
significant step forward from where we were twelve months ago. Will it be
enough? We will have to wait at least until the end of Thursday free
practice sessions to get a clearer picture of where we stand."

Monaco has a unique charm but with it come unique problems and while
facilities have much improved in the past couple of years with something
approximating a "real" pit lane, the garages are still rather small and the
trucks are stationed a long way away. On track, a lap of this circuit is
also different to any other and this year, drivers will be tackling it
without the advantage of electronic driver aids. Much has been made of the
difficulties this might pose but one should remember that for most of its
history, this race has been contested without the benefits of traction
control and other electronic aids! On a track with absolutely no run-off
area for most of its length, one element that has often played a key role is
the weather, because this is one track where rain can cause chaos and a wet
track is part of the scenario predicted for at least part of this coming
weekend.

Last year, even though other teams were in much better shape than the
Scuderia, Felipe Massa was competitive in qualifying and went on to finish a
fine third, while Kimi Raikkonen has a good record here with a win in 2005
and a second place in 2003, but last year, a mistake in Q2 on Saturday
effectively ruined his Sunday: he started 16th and finished eighth, but the
single point he picked up that day made a big difference to the Finn when it
came time to allocate the Drivers' title!

Ferrari has won in the Principality a total of eight times, but not since
Michael Schumacher's 2001 victory. It is fair to say Monte Carlo has not
been a happy hunting ground for the team. "We have not won here for seven
years, so it would be good to reverse that trend this year," reckons Stefano
Domenicali. "For the last six of those years, a Ferrari has been the fastest
car on track, but this has still not been enough to win. In fact, even in
the years when we really dominated the season, such as 2002 and '04, we have
been unable to secure the top slot, in the case of the latter year, because
of that unusual collision between Michael and Montoya in the tunnel during a
Safety Car period. This is always such a difficult event, but nevertheless
we go there with the intention of winning, although well aware that it might
not be possible, because of so many random events that can happen in the
streets of Monaco, such as the weather, the possible intervention of the
Safety Car and naturally, the importance of getting everything right in
qualifying the day before."